One Game at a Time: Difficult Second Season
Karma Week featuring The Baggies (A) September 21st
Having spent the international break largely acting as wheelchair pusher and crutch carrier for an injured wife whilst we enjoyed the late summer sun of Lanzerote, the final weekend of our trip was spent glued to that most unlikely of sources of good news, BBC Final Score.
Combined with Pasoti plus BBC Football news (no Sky Sports on the hotel TV system), and having suffered with multiple submissions of the previous OGAAT through an ageing iPhone and numerous fat finger issues, the arrival in town of the current League leaders and their almost impeccable record, following the Greens, looked like being a thankless task. Still it was sunny and hot, and beer was cheap, so things could have been worse.
Based on the immediate feedback online, that trend looked unlikely to be bucked, as Sunderland dominated, and then, as if being pretty good wasnât enough, were handed an egregious opening goal, via the penalty that never was. When I briefly studied Economics as part of my degree, I learnt about Adam Smith and his theory of the âInvisible Handâ whereby consumer self-interest shapes the market. In sporting terms, the invisible touch that caused Chris Riggs to collapse like a Liz Truss budget left the vast majority of the bumper crowd incredulous, and the bleary eyed travelling Mackems jubilant.
That referees can get things wrong is an inevitable reality of watching any sport. I choose to believe that there is no inherent bias in their performances, and indeed take the view that if both sets of supporters are unhappy then in all probability the referee probably didnât have that bad a game, such is the blinkered viewpoint of most partisan fans.
That said, when the consensus of both sets of fans is that a decision is a poor one, one does have to wonder how such a potentially game-changing moment could be so badly wrong.
League debutant Grimshaw was comprehensively outwitted with the penalty, and, but for a spectacular save from the scorer Roberts later free kick, the half time cuppas might well have been being chucked around the home dressing room. Two nil down and not playing Everton is not the place you want to be.
Be it the injustice, the tweaks of the coaching team or the spirit of the squad, from that point on, and especially in the second half, driven by the indomitable Joe 90, the tables turned. First Cissoko bamboozled his attendants down the left, and Callum Wrights first time shot, when blocked fell for Morgs to drive goalward. Pattersonâs save was brilliant, but the bar and the retreating Ballard contrived to ensure that Argyleâs equaliser would maintain their Black Cats record of only conceding to themselves. Not for long though.
Momentum is a valuable commodity in sport, and with Gyabi, Cissoko and Randell on the charge, ably supported by Whittaker, Wright and the late arriving Hardie, replacing a frustrated Obafemi, Argyle had it.
First a melee, started by Mundleâs assault on Joe Edwards, which bizarrely led to the booking of Szuchs. Mundle was fortunate not to have seen red, as a consequence of his having seen red. Cissoko was then unfortunate that his run and dipping shot hit the bar with Patterson well beaten. As more and more Sunderland players were drawn towards the mercurial Dutchman, his next cross created mayhem, and the luckless Ballard first had a complete air shot, before barreling into Hardie in pursuit of the lost ball. Hardie calmly slotted the resultant penalty.
Argyle still had the momentum, and a first glimpse of our newest Pilgrim, al Hajj bodes well with some clever passing and an innate ability to find space and look forwards. The midfield young guns race being run, on came Forshaw and Houghton to manage the game, but Mundle had another chance to cross, and when that was cleared back to him, he managed to thread his shot through a crowded six-yard box to pull the Mackems level.
With seven minutes added on, a final shift saw Argyle press, and Gibson passed to new partner Szuchs who clubbed in a thirty-yard shot which Patterson shovelled away. It fell to who else but Captain Fantastic, whose low shot crept through and under Patterson. Cue mayhem and limbs. And that was just the coaching staff and the Argyle bench.
One final penalty shout to be negotiated, and Mr Brooks was now in no mood to award it, having reached his quota for the game, and Argyle and Rooney had their first win on the board. Even with the hesitant opening it was a deserved three points, graciously acknowledged by a measured Sunderland manager, Le Bris, and the Home Park of old, bouncing to a best of five goals thriller, was back.
And then on Monday, from the gits that keep on taking, finally, a gift that keeps on giving. After a mediocre performance at this seasons potential Ipswich surprise package, Oxford, Stoke City, sitting in 13th, a position which, if they held onto it, would be their highest finish since they left the elite of the Premier League, and after a massive five whole matches out of the 46 available to them, determined that the man (and his coaching team) that last season was worth a seven figure compensation investment just to get them on the helicopter north, was no longer the bright young thing they imagined, and so he was despatched.
Not even the bus fare home. âHello dear, Youâre home early. Er, whereâs the car?â
Although Oatcake and indeed many other sources are rife with speculation, we donât know and probably never will know the full ins and outs of why âthe brightest young coach in English footballâ (John Coates, Stoke Chairman on hiring him) didnât last a year at arguably one of the richest clubs in England.
In the sixteenth century Italy saw the birth of Commedia dellâ arte where a stylised masked troupe would perform comedic and satirical plays, some scripted and some improvised off-the -cuff. If there were ever a Commedia dellâ sportif, the Stoke City board would be its leading set of performers.
The most recent theatrical success in this field would be "One Man, Two Guv'nors", with James Corden (and later Rufus Hound) although in Stoke's case, whilst that title would work for the hapless Harlequinesque Schuey, for John Coates as the Pantalone like rich older protagonist, One Guv'nor, Seven Men would be a better representation of his time in command.
The sinister braggart and bully would clearly fit the Scaramouche like "Super" John Walters, who judging by his complete absence from Schumacher's farewell riposte, when thanking those in the Stoke camp, is clearly the man most blamed by our departed coach. As farewells go it was right up there with the Dolphins in Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, and "So long and thanks for all the fish!"
I have in past articles referred to Einsteinâs definition of insanity, which is doing the same thing over and over again whilst expecting a different outcome. In Coatesâ case he has, in the last year, replaced two managers and one director of football. Each has come with a compensation bill, and of course, during the transfer windows a rebuild cost as the new manager replaces the players that the old manager wanted with his own. Seven managers and two DOF's in six years, and last season they finished the lowest of all those seasons. I think you can see why Denise keeps her brother at arms length from the Bet365 boardroom.
There remains a question mark over Schumacher who now has potentially fallen out with three successive Directors of Football, and who was clearly blindsided by the departure. It does seem off that, given the new coach was in place before the end of the week in which Schumacher was fired, he was allowed to see through the transfer window, although if as reported, the argument with Walters after Oxford was over his failure to play some of the new recruits, that may explain the wielding of the axe.
That said, his record was seven wins from his last ten games, and given he took over a squad that was massively underperforming (hence his appointment at such expense) you do have to wonder exactly what would qualify as acceptable performance for the City board. They gave him six games less than "Mad Nath" Jones, and his win percentage was the best since Gudjon Thordarson, the only two managers who breached 40% in this century for the Potters.
The appointment of Narcis Pelarch, a young Spanish coach most recently at Norwich (currently trailing Stoke by a point) who cites as his influences Carlos Corboran, Guardiola and, er Colin from his time at Huddersfield, comes with the farcical press release line about him signing a three-year contract. Want to have a bet on that Narcis?
One theory, not widely explored because I have only just made it up, is that Stoke needed to act and appoint their new man before the new Labour Government abolished zero-hour contracts. Mind you, it looks like Niall Ennis has already got his in place.
Pelarchâs arrival also sees Dean Whitehead return to the club as a coach, fresh from a seven-nil hiding at Old Trafford with Barnsley. Now that's what I call pedigree, chum.
Given Argyle have also moved on, and have appointed a head coach who is equally capable of delivering pulsating multi goal thrillers, this weekend sees us, having despatched one table topper, visiting their immediate successor, in the Baggies.
Albion are managed by Carlos Corboran, probably pound for pound the most impressive manager in the Championship with his constant over-performing against budget, and his reconstructing of sides.
Their comprehensive dismantling of Ian Fosterâs Argyle side at Home Park was the largest straw on the back of a badly crippled camel, and although the change of ownership at the Hawthorns hasnât resulted in a huge influx of funds from new owner Shilen Patel, the American is considered a much-improved solution after the financially disastrous Guochuan Lai.
Despite more being raised from sales than spent Corboran has improved his squad, with the recent arrivals of Mikey Johnson, their loan star from last season with Celtic and Callum Styles from Barnsley being the latest additions at the end of the window. Styles scored against Pompey last Sunday and Johnson made a ten-minute cameo appearance.
Indeed, Albionâs main concern at present would appear to be the low ÂŁ2 million release fee on Corboran as pressure ramps up on Daniel Farke at Leeds, one of Corboranâs past clubs. Should that occur then Schuey may find out exactly how interested the Baggies are in him after he was so flattered by their apparent previous interest.
For Argyle, for whom Conor Hazard remains the main absentee, it is the continuation of a run of tough matches, especially as, if they do get any kind of positive result from the highest ground in the EFL, then the next mountains will be the parachuting Luton, who have finally found the reserve chute at Millwall, and the title favourites Burnley close behind.
Barring that shuddering opening weekend disaster, Argyle have shown themselves to be largely competitive, even in defeat, and as the players gain experience of the coachâs requirements one can at least hope that there is much more to come from this squad. Plus as we are now above the Wendies I think that means we are guaranteed to be Champions!
We should be grateful we all have something to look forward to at the weekend. There are a few people we know that donât have that for a while, at least. Maybe go a for a little jog, Elliott.
In the meantime, the various national journalists who were able to lazily hang onto âwhen will Rooney get a win?â can now find another club to dissect.
As for our former bosses, former club, well, itâs Chicho time!
COYG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Karma Week featuring The Baggies (A) September 21st
Having spent the international break largely acting as wheelchair pusher and crutch carrier for an injured wife whilst we enjoyed the late summer sun of Lanzerote, the final weekend of our trip was spent glued to that most unlikely of sources of good news, BBC Final Score.
Combined with Pasoti plus BBC Football news (no Sky Sports on the hotel TV system), and having suffered with multiple submissions of the previous OGAAT through an ageing iPhone and numerous fat finger issues, the arrival in town of the current League leaders and their almost impeccable record, following the Greens, looked like being a thankless task. Still it was sunny and hot, and beer was cheap, so things could have been worse.
Based on the immediate feedback online, that trend looked unlikely to be bucked, as Sunderland dominated, and then, as if being pretty good wasnât enough, were handed an egregious opening goal, via the penalty that never was. When I briefly studied Economics as part of my degree, I learnt about Adam Smith and his theory of the âInvisible Handâ whereby consumer self-interest shapes the market. In sporting terms, the invisible touch that caused Chris Riggs to collapse like a Liz Truss budget left the vast majority of the bumper crowd incredulous, and the bleary eyed travelling Mackems jubilant.
That referees can get things wrong is an inevitable reality of watching any sport. I choose to believe that there is no inherent bias in their performances, and indeed take the view that if both sets of supporters are unhappy then in all probability the referee probably didnât have that bad a game, such is the blinkered viewpoint of most partisan fans.
That said, when the consensus of both sets of fans is that a decision is a poor one, one does have to wonder how such a potentially game-changing moment could be so badly wrong.
League debutant Grimshaw was comprehensively outwitted with the penalty, and, but for a spectacular save from the scorer Roberts later free kick, the half time cuppas might well have been being chucked around the home dressing room. Two nil down and not playing Everton is not the place you want to be.
Be it the injustice, the tweaks of the coaching team or the spirit of the squad, from that point on, and especially in the second half, driven by the indomitable Joe 90, the tables turned. First Cissoko bamboozled his attendants down the left, and Callum Wrights first time shot, when blocked fell for Morgs to drive goalward. Pattersonâs save was brilliant, but the bar and the retreating Ballard contrived to ensure that Argyleâs equaliser would maintain their Black Cats record of only conceding to themselves. Not for long though.
Momentum is a valuable commodity in sport, and with Gyabi, Cissoko and Randell on the charge, ably supported by Whittaker, Wright and the late arriving Hardie, replacing a frustrated Obafemi, Argyle had it.
First a melee, started by Mundleâs assault on Joe Edwards, which bizarrely led to the booking of Szuchs. Mundle was fortunate not to have seen red, as a consequence of his having seen red. Cissoko was then unfortunate that his run and dipping shot hit the bar with Patterson well beaten. As more and more Sunderland players were drawn towards the mercurial Dutchman, his next cross created mayhem, and the luckless Ballard first had a complete air shot, before barreling into Hardie in pursuit of the lost ball. Hardie calmly slotted the resultant penalty.
Argyle still had the momentum, and a first glimpse of our newest Pilgrim, al Hajj bodes well with some clever passing and an innate ability to find space and look forwards. The midfield young guns race being run, on came Forshaw and Houghton to manage the game, but Mundle had another chance to cross, and when that was cleared back to him, he managed to thread his shot through a crowded six-yard box to pull the Mackems level.
With seven minutes added on, a final shift saw Argyle press, and Gibson passed to new partner Szuchs who clubbed in a thirty-yard shot which Patterson shovelled away. It fell to who else but Captain Fantastic, whose low shot crept through and under Patterson. Cue mayhem and limbs. And that was just the coaching staff and the Argyle bench.
One final penalty shout to be negotiated, and Mr Brooks was now in no mood to award it, having reached his quota for the game, and Argyle and Rooney had their first win on the board. Even with the hesitant opening it was a deserved three points, graciously acknowledged by a measured Sunderland manager, Le Bris, and the Home Park of old, bouncing to a best of five goals thriller, was back.
And then on Monday, from the gits that keep on taking, finally, a gift that keeps on giving. After a mediocre performance at this seasons potential Ipswich surprise package, Oxford, Stoke City, sitting in 13th, a position which, if they held onto it, would be their highest finish since they left the elite of the Premier League, and after a massive five whole matches out of the 46 available to them, determined that the man (and his coaching team) that last season was worth a seven figure compensation investment just to get them on the helicopter north, was no longer the bright young thing they imagined, and so he was despatched.
Not even the bus fare home. âHello dear, Youâre home early. Er, whereâs the car?â
Although Oatcake and indeed many other sources are rife with speculation, we donât know and probably never will know the full ins and outs of why âthe brightest young coach in English footballâ (John Coates, Stoke Chairman on hiring him) didnât last a year at arguably one of the richest clubs in England.
In the sixteenth century Italy saw the birth of Commedia dellâ arte where a stylised masked troupe would perform comedic and satirical plays, some scripted and some improvised off-the -cuff. If there were ever a Commedia dellâ sportif, the Stoke City board would be its leading set of performers.
The most recent theatrical success in this field would be "One Man, Two Guv'nors", with James Corden (and later Rufus Hound) although in Stoke's case, whilst that title would work for the hapless Harlequinesque Schuey, for John Coates as the Pantalone like rich older protagonist, One Guv'nor, Seven Men would be a better representation of his time in command.
The sinister braggart and bully would clearly fit the Scaramouche like "Super" John Walters, who judging by his complete absence from Schumacher's farewell riposte, when thanking those in the Stoke camp, is clearly the man most blamed by our departed coach. As farewells go it was right up there with the Dolphins in Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, and "So long and thanks for all the fish!"
I have in past articles referred to Einsteinâs definition of insanity, which is doing the same thing over and over again whilst expecting a different outcome. In Coatesâ case he has, in the last year, replaced two managers and one director of football. Each has come with a compensation bill, and of course, during the transfer windows a rebuild cost as the new manager replaces the players that the old manager wanted with his own. Seven managers and two DOF's in six years, and last season they finished the lowest of all those seasons. I think you can see why Denise keeps her brother at arms length from the Bet365 boardroom.
There remains a question mark over Schumacher who now has potentially fallen out with three successive Directors of Football, and who was clearly blindsided by the departure. It does seem off that, given the new coach was in place before the end of the week in which Schumacher was fired, he was allowed to see through the transfer window, although if as reported, the argument with Walters after Oxford was over his failure to play some of the new recruits, that may explain the wielding of the axe.
That said, his record was seven wins from his last ten games, and given he took over a squad that was massively underperforming (hence his appointment at such expense) you do have to wonder exactly what would qualify as acceptable performance for the City board. They gave him six games less than "Mad Nath" Jones, and his win percentage was the best since Gudjon Thordarson, the only two managers who breached 40% in this century for the Potters.
The appointment of Narcis Pelarch, a young Spanish coach most recently at Norwich (currently trailing Stoke by a point) who cites as his influences Carlos Corboran, Guardiola and, er Colin from his time at Huddersfield, comes with the farcical press release line about him signing a three-year contract. Want to have a bet on that Narcis?
One theory, not widely explored because I have only just made it up, is that Stoke needed to act and appoint their new man before the new Labour Government abolished zero-hour contracts. Mind you, it looks like Niall Ennis has already got his in place.
Pelarchâs arrival also sees Dean Whitehead return to the club as a coach, fresh from a seven-nil hiding at Old Trafford with Barnsley. Now that's what I call pedigree, chum.
Given Argyle have also moved on, and have appointed a head coach who is equally capable of delivering pulsating multi goal thrillers, this weekend sees us, having despatched one table topper, visiting their immediate successor, in the Baggies.
Albion are managed by Carlos Corboran, probably pound for pound the most impressive manager in the Championship with his constant over-performing against budget, and his reconstructing of sides.
Their comprehensive dismantling of Ian Fosterâs Argyle side at Home Park was the largest straw on the back of a badly crippled camel, and although the change of ownership at the Hawthorns hasnât resulted in a huge influx of funds from new owner Shilen Patel, the American is considered a much-improved solution after the financially disastrous Guochuan Lai.
Despite more being raised from sales than spent Corboran has improved his squad, with the recent arrivals of Mikey Johnson, their loan star from last season with Celtic and Callum Styles from Barnsley being the latest additions at the end of the window. Styles scored against Pompey last Sunday and Johnson made a ten-minute cameo appearance.
Indeed, Albionâs main concern at present would appear to be the low ÂŁ2 million release fee on Corboran as pressure ramps up on Daniel Farke at Leeds, one of Corboranâs past clubs. Should that occur then Schuey may find out exactly how interested the Baggies are in him after he was so flattered by their apparent previous interest.
For Argyle, for whom Conor Hazard remains the main absentee, it is the continuation of a run of tough matches, especially as, if they do get any kind of positive result from the highest ground in the EFL, then the next mountains will be the parachuting Luton, who have finally found the reserve chute at Millwall, and the title favourites Burnley close behind.
Barring that shuddering opening weekend disaster, Argyle have shown themselves to be largely competitive, even in defeat, and as the players gain experience of the coachâs requirements one can at least hope that there is much more to come from this squad. Plus as we are now above the Wendies I think that means we are guaranteed to be Champions!
We should be grateful we all have something to look forward to at the weekend. There are a few people we know that donât have that for a while, at least. Maybe go a for a little jog, Elliott.
In the meantime, the various national journalists who were able to lazily hang onto âwhen will Rooney get a win?â can now find another club to dissect.
As for our former bosses, former club, well, itâs Chicho time!
COYG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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